While FOX Sports has allowed the Ultimate Fighting Championship to produce its own events thus far, the company is lending a bit of technology to this Saturday's UFC on FOX 4 event.
FOX Sports officials on Wednesday announced the two-hour event will feature the debut of a UFC "Ref Cam."
UFC on FOX 4 takes place at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The main card airs live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). Preliminary-card fights air on FUEL TV at 5 p.m. ET.
The new technology marks the first time such a feature has been utilized in the UFC's octagon, though other promotions, including the now-defunct PRIDE Fighting Championships, have previously used similar innovations in their broadcasts.
According to a release from FOX, the camera will be positioned at the top button of the referee's shirt during matches. The camera is powered by a lithium ion battery with a transmitter under the ref's shirt in a vest.
FOX Sports, in particular, frequently has used unique camera angles in telecasts of other sports to bring viewers unique looks inside the games. Earlier this year, the network debuted the latest "Diamond Cam," a miniature camera embedded into the infield for its Major League Baseball broadcasts.
Inertia Unlimited is responsible for the Diamond Cam and also provides the technology behind the Ref Cam, which made its debut earlier this year on HBO's Amir Khan-Danny Garcia boxing broadcast.
UFC on FOX 4 features a main event light heavyweight contenders bout between former champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Brandon Vera. In the co-main event, former 205-pound champ Lyoto Machida faces Ryan Bader. UFC president Dana White has said the fighter with the most impressive victory in those two fights will move on to meet the winner of champ Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson for the light heavyweight title.
Source: FOX debuts 'Ref Cam' at Saturday's UFC on FOX 4 event in Los Angeles